Bumping Calumet, Ravisloe, Prairie Landing and Highlands. Played Bowes first time this summer and walked, would not recommend. Was really impressed by Thunderhawk. Love bolingbrook because I always seem to play well out there.
Also, fuck ruffled feathers, over priced, poorly maintained, first four holes are usually swamped. Pace of play might be second worst, only to George Dunne.
Coming summer I’m excited to see what Klein Creek has in store, played a round towards the end of the summer out there, apparently under new ownership and he’s pumping a bunch of money into it.
Oh that’s awesome, the crew there is great. Agreed on that, it was really the first course I played consistently when I moved to Arlington Heights a year and a half ago and loved it! Only place I’ve broken “80” too (although its like a par 67 I think)
It’s one of my favorites after the reno because it’s walkable, there are tons of great scoring chances, lots of risk reward, and I get a full bag workout playing there.
Criminally underrated course just because it’s a Par 68
I didn’t play it til November. While conditions weren’t pristine I thought it was totally fine for late Fall. Their normal rates aren’t great, but the Arcis Players prime is a pretty good deal in Winter. $60 a month gets you free greens fees Nov-March (Weather permitting obviously) + unlimited range use. The catch being the courses are Fresh Meadows, Ruffled Feathers and Tamarack. My logic is 60 bucks is essentially four buckets at Diversey so as long as I get to the range more than once a week in Winter it’s good deal for practice.
RF is definitely a housing development course, but I think there’s a lot of fun holes, and the design principles are solid.
Agreed on all points. Condition is always solid even after a bunch of rain. The reno must have really helped with irrigation plus they are even removing trees like the one on 9!
I played Klein Creek toward the end of last season. Aside from the parts that were being worked on, it was in really, really, good shape.
That said, course is hard man. Trouble absolutely everywhere and not walker friendly at all. Don’t think I’ll be back but if I lived in Wheaton it would be tempting.
This list has blown my mind. Haven’t even heard of some of these!
I have a hard time making it to 10 but here mine, feel like a neophyte in comparison:
Ravi
Mt. P
Harborside Port
Harborside Starboard
Cantigny
Sydney Marovitz (nostalgia)
Thunderhawk
Canal Shores (nostalgia)
(This is where I run out of steam)
Mistwood maybe?
And then Wilmette GC maybe?
I used to play Winnetka GC a lot but we had a messy breakup that was in the papers. I just woke up one day and realized I hated her.
Coyote Run was my OG public track. Many memories on Kedzie Avenue. Would be cool to see them to a green renovation similar to Mt. Prospect. Damn do I love Mt. P, place is the best.
Harborside was definitely something different in the Chicagoland area for me. IMO does not compete with “links” courses in other regions, but if you are only golfing in the Chicagoland area it is a must-play